Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 115,564	$ 216,222
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	159,205	159,448
Non-cash compensation expense	10,802	10,069
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,084)	(1,791)
Distributions of net cash flow from operations of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,861	10,718
Gains from investments in securities	(1,042)	(259)
Non-cash portion of interest expense	(7,729)	(10,138)
Gains on sales of real estate	(133)	(67,623)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Cash held in escrows	6,664	1,940
Tenant and other receivables, net	19,023	25,018
Accrued rental income, net	(9,158)	(12,981)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(21,197)	45,560
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(16,306)	(5,209)
Accrued interest payable	22,781	31,192
Other liabilities	(7,090)	(33,319)
Tenant leasing costs	(23,631)	(19,867)
Total adjustments	130,966	132,758
Net cash provided by operating activities	246,530	348,980
Cash flows from investing activities:
Construction in progress	(154,518)	(122,940)
Building and other capital improvements	(43,687)	(25,329)
Tenant improvements	(50,810)	(55,739)
Proceeds from sales of real estate	133	104,816
Proceeds from sales of real estate placed in escrow	0	(104,696)
Proceeds from sales of real estate released from escrow	0	104,696
Cash released from escrow for investing activities	5,230	0
Cash released from escrow for land sale contracts	0	488
Capital contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures	(17,980)	(10,215)
Investments in securities, net	(961)	(438)
Net cash used in investing activities	(262,593)	(109,357)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of mortgage notes payable	(5,038)	(6,265)
Proceeds from unsecured senior notes	0	997,080
Borrowings on unsecured line of credit	175,000	0
Repayments of unsecured line of credit	(70,000)	0
Payments on real estate financing transactions	(480)	(781)
Deferred financing costs	0	(8,047)
Net proceeds from equity transactions	(183)	(657)
Dividends and distributions	(131,555)	(328,567)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	8,145	2,489
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(13,801)	(12,915)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(37,912)	642,337
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(53,975)	881,960
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	356,914	723,718
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	302,939	1,605,678
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	92,774	93,524
Interest capitalized	12,345	9,269
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Write off of fully depreciated real estate	(49,292)	(17,518)
Additions to real estate included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	44,708	(24,857)
Dividends and distributions declared but not paid	130,418	113,079
Conversions of noncontrolling interests to stockholders’ equity	793	446
Issuance of restricted securities to employees	34,592	32,630
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	117,711	220,378
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	157,058	157,461
Non-cash compensation expense	10,802	10,069
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,084)	(1,791)
Distributions of net cash flow from operations of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,861	10,718
Gains from investments in securities	(1,042)	(259)
Non-cash portion of interest expense	(7,729)	(10,138)
Gains on sales of real estate	(133)	(69,792)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Cash held in escrows	6,664	1,940
Tenant and other receivables, net	19,023	25,018
Accrued rental income, net	(9,158)	(12,981)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(21,197)	45,560
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(16,306)	(5,209)
Accrued interest payable	22,781	31,192
Other liabilities	(7,090)	(33,319)
Tenant leasing costs	(23,631)	(19,867)
Total adjustments	128,819	128,602
Net cash provided by operating activities	246,530	348,980
Cash flows from investing activities:
Construction in progress	(154,518)	(122,940)
Building and other capital improvements	(43,687)	(25,329)
Tenant improvements	(50,810)	(55,739)
Proceeds from sales of real estate	133	104,816
Proceeds from sales of real estate placed in escrow	0	(104,696)
Proceeds from sales of real estate released from escrow	0	104,696
Cash released from escrow for investing activities	5,230	0
Cash released from escrow for land sale contracts	0	488
Capital contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures	(17,980)	(10,215)
Investments in securities, net	(961)	(438)
Net cash used in investing activities	(262,593)	(109,357)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of mortgage notes payable	(5,038)	(6,265)
Proceeds from unsecured senior notes	0	997,080
Borrowings on unsecured line of credit	175,000	0
Repayments of unsecured line of credit	(70,000)	0
Payments on real estate financing transactions	(480)	(781)
Deferred financing costs	0	(8,047)
Net proceeds from equity transactions	(183)	(657)
Dividends and distributions	(131,555)	(328,567)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	8,145	2,489
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(13,801)	(12,915)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(37,912)	642,337
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(53,975)	881,960
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	356,914	723,718
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	302,939	1,605,678
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	92,774	93,524
Interest capitalized	12,345	9,269
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Write off of fully depreciated real estate	(49,292)	(17,518)
Additions to real estate included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	44,708	(24,857)
Dividends and distributions declared but not paid	130,418	113,079
Conversions of noncontrolling interests to stockholders’ equity	793	446
Issuance of restricted securities to employees	$ 34,592	$ 32,630